Good Old Days
Embracing Youth: Nostalgia in Jack Pavlina's 'Good Old Days'
Lyrics
Long talks messing around with the boys
Enjoying lengthy conversations and activities with male friends
It's late but we still make tons of noise
Despite the late hour, making a lot of noise and having fun
Mother walks in saying shut it down
Mother interrupts and instructs to end the activity
Looks at us like we're a circus full of clowns
Receives disapproving looks as if they are a group of clowns
Turn the lights off pretend to go to bed
Pretending to go to bed by turning off lights
Talking of the dream girls in our heads
Discussing idealized girls in their imaginations
Memories surround us and we didn't know
Unaware that they are creating lasting memories
These are the good old days before we turn old
Reflecting on these moments as the good old days
Oh how I miss the times
Expressing nostalgia for past times
Messing around with my friends
Fond memories of fooling around with friends
Forgetting the idea that someday this all will end
Ignoring the concept that these moments will eventually end
Oh how I wish I'd known
Wishing for awareness of the value of those times
I was living in the good old days before
Realizing they were living in the good old days
And they're only here to go
Recognizing that these moments are fleeting
Walking home from school making stupid jokes
Recalling walking home, sharing silly jokes
Thinking we're the coolest kids ever known
Feeling a sense of coolness and camaraderie
Spending money on food that we didn't need
Spending money on unnecessary things
Arguing about who's paying for who's drink
Engaging in debates over who pays for drinks
Settle down and take a moment to our selves
Taking a moment to appreciate simplicity
Look around and see that we need nothing else
Realizing that they need nothing else for contentment
As the sun beats down on the snow
Observing the sun shining on the snow, symbolizing passing time
Every moment must go
Acknowledging the impermanence of every moment
Oh how I miss the times
Expressing longing for past experiences with friends
Messing around with my friends
Fond memories of goofing off with friends
Forgetting the idea that someday this all will end
Ignoring the notion that these moments will eventually end
Oh how I wish I'd known
Wishing for awareness of the value of those times
I was living in the good old days before
Realizing they were living in the good old days
And they're only here to go
Recognizing that these moments are fleeting
Nothing gold can stay
Quoting "Nothing gold can stay," implying the transience of valuable moments
Nothing gold can stay
Reiteration of the idea that precious moments are temporary
Nothing gold can stay
Emphasizing the ephemeral nature of valuable experiences
Nothing gold can stay
Repeating the concept that valuable moments are short-lived
Oh how I miss the times
Expressing longing for past experiences with friends
Messing around with my friends
Fond memories of goofing off with friends
Forgetting the idea that someday this all will end
Ignoring the notion that these moments will eventually end
Oh how I wish I'd known
Wishing for awareness of the value of those times
I was living in the good old days before
Realizing they were living in the good old days
And they're only here to go
Recognizing that these moments are fleeting
Nothing gold can stay
Quoting "Nothing gold can stay," emphasizing transience
Nothing gold can stay
Reiteration of the idea that precious moments are temporary
Nothing gold can stay
Emphasizing the ephemeral nature of valuable experiences
Nothing gold can stay
Repeating the concept that valuable moments are short-lived
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